But the city also has some of the best public schools in Lincoln Parish and the state of Louisiana. Take a look at the top elementary, middle, and high schools below to help you find the right neighborhood to settle down in.
A.E. Phillips Laboratory Schoo
This K-8 is the top elementary/middle school in Lincoln Parish and the #3 elementary school in all of Louisiana (according to Niche.com). A.E. Phillips has a total population of nearly 400 students. Almost every student performs at grade level in math (94%) and reading (99%).
Hillcrest Elementary School
This is another top-tier public elementary school in Ruston. The school earns an overall A grade from Niche.com and earns high marks in individual categories: A+ in teacher quality; A in academics; and B+ in student diversity. Here, the majority of students perform at grade level in math and reading (88%).
I.A. Lewis School
The best middle school in Lincoln Parish after A.E. Phillips is I.A. Lewis. This school has nearly 300 students and serves one grade level, sixth grade. It is recognized as a Niche.com Standout Middle School in Louisiana and has the Best Public Middle School Teachers in Louisiana (#33 out of 410).
Ruston Junior High
Students from I.A. Lewis go on to attend Ruston Junior High, a good middle school with over 570 students in grades 7-8. A good majority of students perform at grade level in math (67%) and reading (72%). Ruston Junior High is recognized by Niche.com as having the Best Public Middle School Teachers in Louisiana (#17 out of 410).
Ruston High School
For high school, consider Ruston High. This is a top-rated school with over 1,250 students in grades 9-12. Niche.com ranks it favorably in three categories: Best Public High School Teachers in Louisiana (#10 out of 298), Best College Prep Public High Schools in Louisiana (#18 out of 280), and Niche Standout High Schools in Louisiana (#19 out of 92).
Choudrant High School
The #2 best high school in Lincoln Parish is Choudrant High, located in Choudrant LA, about 8 miles from Ruston. Students here have a healthy 23% enrollment in AP courses, and 90% go on to graduate. Many go on to attend Louisiana Tech University, LSU, and other well-regarded universities.
